Refrigeration unit



2, 1932- R. L. ALEXANDER ET AL 1,869,835

REFRIGERATION UNIT Filed Feb. 26, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l TTORN EYS Aug.2, 193 'R. ALEXANDER ET AL 1,869,835

REFRIGERATION UNIT Filed Feb. 26, 1930 4'Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Aug.2, 1932- R; ALEXANDER ET AL 1,869,835

REFRIGERATION UNIT Filed Feb. 26. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig.5.

um 5W I l M IM Mull INVENTORS BY m ATTCR N EYS Patented Au 2. 1932UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT L. ALEXANDR, AND JAMES R. HCCALLUM,OI CLINTON, IOWA, ASSIGNORS TO THE CLIMAX ENGINEERING COMPANY, OFCLINTON, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REFRIGERATION UNIT Applicationfiled February 20, 1930'. Serial No. 431,524.

This invention relates to refrigerating systems and more particularlyconcerns an improved compression and condensing unit of refrigeratingsystems of the compression type.

Small electric refrigerating systems of the compression type areextensively used to cool household refrigerator cabinets, water coolersand the like. Compression refrigeration systems of this type include asessential elements thereof, a compressor, driving means for thecompressor, a condenser, an expansion device, an evaporator and suitablecontrol means for e'fi'ecting the starting and stopping of the motor andthe regulation of the degree of refrigeration produced. Of the elementsnamed, the evaporator is enclosed within a refrigerator cabinet or otherspace to be cooled, whereas the remaining devices are usually mounted atconvenient points outside of the cabinet, and may be located on the topor below the bottom thereof. When exposed to view, as when mounted ontop of a refrigerator cabinet, it is desirable that the operatingelements of this system present a neat and pleasing appearance.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a unitary andextremely compact construction incorporating the motor, compressor,condenser, expansion device and control means of a compressionrefrigeration system, and certain subcombinations of these elements. Theinvention further contemplates a unitary construction embodying some orall of the above elements in which the compression apparatus and thecondenser are suitably associated for proper operation and in which themanually operable elements of the control means are readily accessibleto the operator. The invention further contemplates the provision of aunitary structure of the type described which is pleasing in appearancein that the unsightly elements thereof are enclosed or hidden frcm view.

A- further object of the invention resides in the provision of improvedmeans for hermetically sealing the motor and compressor of the unitwithin a casing, whereby the leakage of refrigerant from the system isprevented.

Various other specific objects, advantages and characteristic featuresof the invention will be pointed out or will become apparent as thedescription thereof progresses.

In general, the improved unitof our invention includes a compressioncasing enclosing a motor and a compressor and an air cooled condensermounted below this casing and beneath the heat radiating projections onthe casing. The condenser is preferably of substantially crescent shape,the plan thereof generally resembling an annulus having a gap therein,and the control means of the system is conveniently mounted in the gapin the condenser structure.

The expansion means or receiver of the system may be mounted beneath thecompression casing and within the confines of the condenser and in thismanner, the overall height of the unit is not increased by either thecontrol means or the expansion or receiving means incorporatedtherewith. The compression casing is hermetically sealed by our improvedmeans as hereinafter described.

The invention will be best understood by tion of the construction shownin Fig. 1

including a modified type of refrigerant receiving means;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing a modified form of expansionmeans mounted within the condenser;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a modified form of the construction of thepresent invention;

Fig. 7 is a plan view, partly in section, taken along the line 77 ofFig. 8; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3,the disclosed embodiment of our invention comprises generally, a unitarystructure including a compression unit U, a condenser C, an expansiondevice V and a control device D. The compression unit includes a baseplate 11 on which are supported a compressor P and a motor M insuperimposed relation. The construction of the motor and compressor, andthe mounting thereof within the compresion casing, forms no part of thepresent invention.

In order that a complete disclosure may be given, the motor andcompressor construction will be briefly described.

The base plate 11 is provided with a central raised machined surface 17which forms the lower end plate of the compressor P. A thrust bearingopening 2 is formed in this surface and a compressor cylinder wallmember 18 is mounted directly on its surface about the opening 2. Anupper end plate 19 is mounted on the wall member 18 and these elementsare clamped together and to the surface 17 of the base plate 11 bysuitable means such as the machine screws 20. The upper end plate 19 isprovided with an integral upwardly extending journal bearing 21, and avertical shaft 22 is carried by this bearing and the thrust bearing 2 inthe base plate 11. An annular piston 27 having an integral blade portion3 is mounted within the cylinder wall member 18, and the circularcentral opening of this piston rotatably engages an eccentric 26 fixedto the shaft 22. The blade 3 of the piston 27 is mounted forreciprocatory and oscillatory movement between a pair of rocker blocks 4carried in openings in the cylinder wall member 18 as shown in Fig. 3.

The intake of the compressor P comprises a duct 29 in the base plate 11,this duct being connected to the suction pipe 31 through a check valveof suitable construction. The outlet for the compressor comprises a duct32 through the upper end plate 19, a spring check valve 33 beingdisposed over the upper end of this duct. Inlet duct 29 and the outletduct 32 of the compressor terminate respectively on opposite sides ofthe piston blade 3 within the compressor cylinder, as indicated in Fig.3. It will be apparent that as the eccentric 26 is rotated by the shaft22 in the direction indicated by the arrow, refrigerant will be drawnfrom the intake duct 29, forced around and compressed in the cylinder bythe piston 27 and discharged into the compression casing through theoutlet duct 32 and the check valve 33.

The rotor 23 of the motor M is fixed to the shaft 22 above the bearing21, and the stator 24 of this motor is mounted in operative relation tothe rotor by means of brackets or supports 25 fixed to or formedintegrally with the upper end plate 19 of the compressor P.

Suitable ducts 5 and 6 are respectively provided in the base plate 11and the shaft 22 to serve oil to the moving parts of the mechanism.

The motor M and compressor P are tightly sealed within a casing formedby the dome or casing shell 10 and the base plate 11. According to thepresent invention, a depression 12 is formed in the inner surface of thedome near its lower edge, and the outer edge of the base plate 11 isfitted snugly within this depression as shown. The plate 11 is lockedwithin the depression 12 by means of a ring 13 of heavy spring wirewhich resiliently expands into an annular groove or recess 14 at thelower edge of the dome 10. After being assembled in the. mannerdescribed, the joint between the base plate 11 and the dome 10 may besealed by tinning, soldering or welding, as shown at 7, to insure atight fit between these parts. I

The dome or casing shell 10 is preferably provided with heat radiatingprojections of any desired type, and in the disclosed embodiment, aplurality of outwardly extending fins 38 are employed for this purpose.The particular form of fins disclosed forms no part of the presentinvention.

The compression unit U is mounted in spaced relation to the supportingsurface 34 on which the apparatus is disposed, and in the disclosedembodiment, a plurality of legs 35 are provided for this purpose. Theupper ends of the legs 35 are preferably secured to the lower surface ofthe base plate 11 by suitable means such as machine screws or bolts 36,and the lower ends of these legs may be fixed to the surface 34 by bolts37 if desired.

The outlet of the compression unit U comprises a pipe 41 which is sealedthrough an opening in the dome 10 and terminates at approximately thehighest point in the dome. The outlet pipe 41 extends to a point belowthe base plate 11 and there terminates in a condenser pipe 40. Thecondenser is continuous and is formed in a series of vertically aligned,arcuate concentric loops having a gap between the ends thereof as bestshown in Fig. 2. Heat radiating means such as the reversely bent metalstrips 8 are preferably disposed between the concentric portions of thecondenser pipe and on the outer and inner surfaces thereof as shown inFig. 2, the strips 8 being preferably tinned or weldedto the pipe 40 toinsure an efficient heat conductive joint between these elements. Thecondenser structure is suspended below the base plate 11 and beneath thedome fins 38 by suitable means such as the bolts 9 earned by thesupporting brackets 39 which reeeg eee are welded or otherwise'suitablysecured to the lower edge of the dome 10 as shown. Suitable discs 61 maybe threaded to the lower ends of the bolts 9 to clamp the condenserstructure to the brackets 39.

The outlet pipe 43 of the condenser 40 is connected to an expansiondevice V, which in the embodiment of Fig. 1 comprises a float valve. Thefloat valve is of known and usual construction and comprises generally acasing 44 having a top' closure 62 sealed thereto and a valve housing 45fixed to the inner wall thereof. A float 64 is carried by an arm 65pivoted to the valve housing 45, and a needle valve 66 cooperating, witha valve seat in thehousing 45, is connected to the arm 65. The valvepassage 67 through the housing 45 communicates with an outlet pipe 46,and the condenser outlet pipe 43 is sealed to an opening in the casing44 in.

any suitable manner. The float valve structure is preferably locatedbeneath the base plate 11 of the compression unit U and within theconfines of the condenser structure C. In the disclosed embodiment, aflange 68 on the top closure 62 of the float valve is suitably securedto the lower surface of the base plate 11. It will be readily apparentthat when a predetermined quantity of liquid refrigerant has collectedwithin the float valve casing 44, the float 64 will rise to a point atwhich the needle valve 66 is opened and liquid refrigerant is permittedto pass through the passage 67 and the outlet pipe 46 to the evaporatorof the system, not shown. When the liquid level within the float valvechamber 44 falls to the inlet opening of the valve passage 67, the float64 drops to, a point at which the needle valve 66 closes, and the flowof gaseous refrigerant to the evaporator is thereby prevented.

A skirt or shroud 49 is preferably disposed about the condenserstructure C, and as shown, extends from the bottom of the lowest coil ofthe condenser pipe 40 to the lower outer edges of the dome fins 38. Theshroud 49 may be tinned or welded to the outer condenser fin strip 8 orto the edges of the dome fins 38 or to both these elements. An opening69 is provided in the skirt 49 at a point opposite the gap between theends of the condenser coil 40 and the control device D of the system issuitably fixed in this opening and 1 extends between the spaced ends ofthe condenser structure C as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The device Dpreferably includes manually operable means for adjusting the cabinettemperature, and as shown, manual 'control knobs 48 are provided on theexposed panel of the device. D for operating the switching andtemperature adjusting means of the device. The specific construction ofthe control device employed forms no part of the present invention andsince devices of this type are known in the art, the detailedconstruction thereof will not be described herein. For the purpose ofthe present invention, it is sufiicient to state that the deviceDincludes suitable controlled contact operating means, connected by aduct 47 or other to open the motor energizing circuit in the event of anoverload on the motor. The control device D may be connected to themotor circuit by suitable conductors 70 passing through sealed openings71 in the base plate 11 of the compression unit U.

A base ring 50 may be disposed below the condenser C- to conceal thelower ends of the supporting legs 35 of the device and thereby improvethe appearance thereof.

As explained above, the present invention contemplates the use of anysuitable expanslon or refrigerant receiving means In conunction with thecondenser, and according ,to one embodiment of the invention, such Imeans are mounted beneath the base plate of the compression casing andwithin the confines of the condenser. Thus, in Fig. 4, We have shown aportion of a unit similar to that disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 wherein areceiver 72 is suitably supported on the lower surface of the base plate11 within the condenser structure C in place of the float valve shown inthe unit of Fig. 1. The receiver may comprise a sealed container ofcylindrical or other suitable shape, and the outlet pipe 43 of thecondenser C as well as the pipe 46 leading to the vaporator are suitablysealed to openings in this. container. When a receiver of this type isemployed, it is preferably included in the high pressure side of thesystem to receive and collect refrigerant from the condenser, and anexpansion valve or other suitable pressure-reducing device is rovided atany point'between the receiver 2 and the evaporator. Since the expansiondevice forms no part of the present invention except when mounted withthe unitary compression and condensing mechanism, no expansion devicehas been shown in the modification of Fig. 4.

, A modified form of expansion device, mounted in accordance with oneembodiment .of our invention, is shown in Fig. 5. This and thus the tubeacts as a pressure-reducing other parts of the structure.

or expansion device. As shown in Fig. 5, the capillary tube 73 issupported from the base plate 11 of the compression unit U and withinthe confines of the condenser C by suitable means such as the bracket74., and

is connected between the condenser outlet pipe 43 and the evaporatorpipe 46.

It should be understood that one embodiment of the invention includesthe use of any suitable expansion or refrigerant receiving means orcombinations of these elements mounted beneath the compression unit andwithin the confines of the condenser, and that the invention is notlimited to the particular expansion and receiving means shown plate 11of the compression unit U, which plate also serves as the mounting forthe compressor P and the motor M, these elements may be attached to andsupported by For example, the expansion or receiving means may besupported from the legs or by means of any structure which will suitablyconnect the parts as a unitary construction and yet maintain the compactdisposition thereof disclosed.

A modified form of the refrigeration unit of the present invention hasbeen shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. The internal construction of thecompression unit U in this modification is substantially identical withthat of the compression unit described above in connection with themodification of Fig. 1, and accordingly, this constructon will not beseparately described. The reference characters employed to designate theparts of the compression unit U in the modification of Figs. 6, 7 and 8correspond to the reference characters designating like parts in theunit of Fig. 1.

The compression unit U shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is supported by anannular base ring 56 preferably formed of sheet metal which may comprisean integral portion of the associated refrigerator cabinet. An annular-baflie ring 78 is suitably fixed to the base ring 56 adjacent the upperedge thereof as shown, and serves to support the compression unit Ucentrally above the base ring 56. The upper edge of the baffie ring 78is bent inwardly and downwardly to form an outwardly and upwardly flaredbaflle portion 59 and a circular supporting portion 75 depending fromthe bafile portion, as shown in Fig. 8. The lower edge of the dome 10 ofthe compression until U rests within the supporting portion 75 of thebaffle ring 78 andv ma be welded, tinned or otherwise secured t ereto.The

lower edge 76 of the supporting portion 75 preferably extends inwardlybeneath the base plate of the unit U and downwardly therefrom, and thearcuate condenser structure C may be attached to this edge by tinning orwelding the upperinner coils of the condenser pipe 40 and the upperedges of the inner condenser fins 77 thereto. The outer edges of theouter condenser fins 79 may be suitably secured to the inner surface ofthe base ring 56, and the condenser structure is so mounted that a spaceis provided between the lower surface thereof and the surface 34; onwhich the apparatus is mounted to permit the flow of cooling air to thecondenser.

A plurality of openings 57 are provided in the base ring 56 near thelower edge thereof to permit the passage of air to the space below thecondenser C. A similar set of openings 58 is provided through the outervertical wall of the balfle ring 78 above the upper end of the condensercoil 40, as shown. The dome 10 of the unit is provided with a pluralityof radially extending cooling fins 60, which fins are preferably taperedat their lower ends to fit within the bafiie portion 59 of the ring 78.

The condenser structure U of the assembly of Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is of thesame shape as that described above in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, andthe control-device D of the unit is mounted in an opening 80 in the basering 56 and extends between the spaced ends of the condenser structure 0as shown in Fig. 7.

If desired, suitable expansion or refrigerant receiving means may bemounted within the condenser structure C and beneath the compressionunit U of the modification of I Figs. 6, 7 and 8, but since the presentinvention, in its broader aspects, includes the disclosed compactrelationship of the compression unit, the condenser and the controldevice, with the expansion or receiving means omitted, such means havenot been shown in this modification.

During the operation of the modified construction shown in Figs. 6, 7and 8, cooling air is induced by the heat of the condenser through theopenings 57 and this air passes upwardly over the condenser structureand is deflected outwardly through the openings 58 and away from thedome 10 by the flared baflie portion 59 of the ring 78. The compressionunit U is cooled by direct radiation to the atmosphere and by convectionair currents flowing over the fins 60 on the dome 10.

It will be readily apparentthat the unitary construction of the presentinvention presents many advantageous features. The location of thecondenser below the sealed compression unit and beneath the cooling finsthereof permits the effective circulation of ture as well as themounting cooling air by convection to maintain these elements at therequlred temperatures during operation. The use of a crescent shapecondenser with the control device disposed between the spaced endsthereof provides a structure in which the manually operable controls areso located that they are readily accessible to the operator, and inwhich the control device is associated with the compression andcondensing mechanism without any increase in the overall height orbulkof the structure. When an expansion device or refrigerant receiver isincluded in the structure, the disposition of this element within theconfines of the condenser and beneath the compression unit provides aneat and compact assembly in which all of the unsightly parts are hiddenfrom view. The assembled structure is pleasing in appearance, which isan important consideration particularl when the unit is mounted on thetop of a re igerator cabinet or in some other exposed location. Theassembly may be shipped as a unit and may be quickly-and easily includedin a refrigeration system by simply making the proper evaporatorconnections and connectin the powerv supply leads to an electric supp ycircuit.

Although the present invention has been described in connection withcertain specific.

modifications, it should be understood that the invention is not limitedto the exact constructions or arrangements disclosed. For example,various expansion or receiving means other than those described may beemployed, the condenser fin and shroud strucmeans for the condenser andthe compresslon unit may be modified, the expansion or receiving meansmay be omitted from the construction and various other changes may bemade without departing from the scope of the invention as defined bytheappended claims.

We claim:

1. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a sealedcompression unit including a compressor and a driving motor thereforenclosed within a casing, means for supporting said casing with thelower end thereof in spaced relation toand above a surface, a condenserconnected to receive compressed refrigerant from said compressor, meansfor receiving refrigerant from said condenser, a control device for saidmotor and means for mechanically connecting said condenser, saidreceiving means and said control device to said unit below the lower endof said casing.

2. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a sealedcompression unit ineluding a compressor and a driving motor thereforenclosed within a casing, means for supporting said casing with thelower endthereof in spaced relation to and above a surface,- a condenserconnected to receive compressed refrigerant from said compressor, acontrol device for said motor and means for mechanically connecting saidcondenser and said control device to said unit below the lower end ofsaid casing.

33. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a base plate, acompressor and a driving motor therefor mounted on the upper surface ofsaid base plate, means for supporting said base plate in spaced relationto and above a surface, an annular condenser having a gap thereinmounted below said base plate, means for connecting said condenser toreceive compressed refrigerant from said compressor and a control devicefor said motor mounted below said base plate and extending within thegap in said condenser. 4. A refrigerating apparatus comprising incombination, a sealed casing, a compressor and a driving motor thereforin said casing, means for supporting said casing in spaced relation to asurface, an annular condenser having a gap therein mounted between saidcasing and said surface and a control device for said motor mountedbetween said casing and said surface and extending into the gap in saidcondenser.

5. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a sealed casing,a compressor and a driving motor therefor in said casing, means forsupporting said casing in spaced relation to and above a surface, heatradiating projections extending laterally from said casing, an annularcondenser having a gap therein mounted below said casing and beneathsaid heat radiating projections, means for connecting said condenser toreceive refrigerant from said compressor and a control device for saidmotor mounted below said casing in the gap in said condenser.

6. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a sealed casing,a compressor and a driving motor therefor in said casing, means forsupporting said casing in spaced relation to and above a surface, anannular condenser having a gap therein mounted below said casing, meansfor connecting said condenser toreceive fluid from said compressor, awall member laterally surrounding said condenser and having an openingtherein opposite the gap in said condenser and a control device for saidmotor mounted inthe opening in said wall member and extending into thegap in said condenser.

7. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a sealed casing,a compressor and a driving motor therefor in said casing, means forsupporting said casing in spaced relation to and above a surface, anannular condenser mounted below said casing in spaced relation to saidsurface and surrounding a space beneath said casing, means forconnecting said condenser to receive compressed refrigerant from saidcompressor and expansion means connected to said condenser and mountedin said space beneath said casing and within the confines of saidcondenser.

8. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a sealed casing,a compressor and a driving motor therefor in said casing, means forsupporting said casing in spaced relation to and above a surface, heatradiating projections on said casing ex tending laterally therefrom, anannular condenser mounted below said casing and beneath said heatradiating projections and disposed in surrounding relationship to aspace beneath said casing, means for connecting said condenser toreceive compressed refrigerant from said compressor and a float valvemounted in said space beneath said casing and within the condenser andconnected to receive refrigerant from said condenser.

9. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a sealed casing,a compressor and a driving motor therefor in said casing, means forsupporting said casing in spaced relation to and above a surface, anannular condenser having a gap therein mounted below said casing anddisposed in surrounding relationship to a space beneath said casing,means for connecting said co-ndenser to receive refrigerant from saidcompressor, refrigerant receiving means connected to said condenser andmounted in said space beneath said casing and within the confines ofsaid condenser, and a control device for said motor mounted below saidcasing and extending within the gap in said condenser.

10. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a sealedcasing, a compressor and a driving motor therefor in said casing, meansfor supporting-said casing in spaced relation to and above a surface, acondenser of annular shape having its ends spaced to form a gap therein,means for mounting said condenser below said casing and in surroundingrelationship to a space beneath said casing, means for connecting saidcondenser to receive compressed refrigerant from said compressor,expansion means connected to said condenser and mounted beneath saidcasing and within the confines of said condenser and a control devicefor said motor mounted below said casing and extending into the gapbetween the spaced ends of said condenser.

11. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a sealedcasing, a compressor and a driving motor therefor in said casing, meansfor supporting said casing in spaced relation to and above a surface, aplurality of heat radiating projections extending laterally from saidcasing, a condenser of annular shape having its ends spaced to form agap therein, means for mounting said conenser below said casing beneathsaid heat radiating projections, means for connecting said condenser toreceive compressed refrigerant from said compressor, expansion meansconnected to said condenser and mounted beneath said casing and withinthe confines of said condenser and a control device for said motormounted below said casing and extending into the gap between the spacedends of said condenser.

12. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a unitary structure including asealed casing, a compressor and a driving motor therefor within saidcasing, an annular base portion for said casing having an openingtherein, a condenser of annular shape having its ends spaced to form agaptherein, means for mounting said condenser below said casing andwithin said base portion with the gap therein opposite said opening anda control device for said motor mounted below said casing between thespaced ends of said condenser and extending through said opening in saidbase portion.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

ROBERT L. ALEXANDER. JAMES R. McCALLUM.

